West Central Reporter

Joshua Griffith, an Abingdon Republican running against Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) in the GOP primary in the 93rd House District, is taking aim at practices he sees as negatively impacting residents.

"I think we have a lot of key problems," Griffith told the West Central Reporter in a interview Thursday.

Griffith also responded to questions about the upcoming schedule for state legislators that shows the General Assembly is only scheduled to be in session less than 20 days in the first trimester of the year.

"Obviously, they need to be in session to make these things happen," Griffith said, referring to necessary reforms such as a move toward a modern 401(k) system to help fix the state's pension problems.

Griffith said it will take change at the state level to really tackle Illinois' problems.

Hammond, he said, is one of 15 Republicans who voted for a tax increase last year in the form of a budget that is estimated to cost residents 32 percent more in taxes. "She's going along with the system," Griffith said.

In a post on his campaign's Facebook page, Griffith elaborated more on some of his thoughts about inaction by lawmakers.

"With so many issues plaguing the state of Illinois – loss of population, high property taxes, and a deficit in the 2018 budget – you would think the General Assembly would prioritize solving some of these problems," Griffith wrote. "However, the fact of the matter is that legislators are only in session for 20 days between now and April 1. Only 20 days in the next three months to work towards fixing problems that are not going away on their own! While our lawmakers take time off, the people in our community in Knox County and across the 93rd District continue to work. They don’t get the luxury of working only 20 days for full pay, and many are still struggling to make ends meet."

Griffith also called out Hammond for siding with House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and Chicago Democrats to raise taxes.

"Instead of working on the long-term problems, many of these career politicians are more concerned with their own re-election campaigns," Griffith wrote. "They put their own needs ahead of the people of their districts. We cannot afford legislators who continue to ignore us. It is time for changes in leadership and representation."